Between the tinnitus from not protecting my ears younger in life and just normal age related hearing loss, I'm thinking about getting hearing aids. I no longer hear a lot of what is said in a TV show, or movie, always asking my wife 'What did they say?" and asking my wife and grand kids to look me in the face when they talk, and noisy restaurants are nearly impossible for me to hear in. It's beginning to detract from my joy of life.
the sad realization of life is, one of these days I'm going to have to get some.
Couple of questions:
Can you ride with them in?
Do they make putting on a helmet an issue?
Do they work as ear protection while riding?
If not, I guess you need to remove them to put in ear plugs?
Would they amplify wind and road noise as well as voices and other necessary to hear sounds.
Are they comfortable to wear?
I have the same questions. I'm a few years younger than you, but I'm in line right behind you!
Consider yourself fortunate to last this long.
I was stationed in an artillery unit in the Army, and although they gave us foam earplugs- as I am sure you know the plugs only knock down a certain DB range.
Well- a howitzer, Abrams, etc are well above safe even with plugs. Heck most anything in the Army is well above safe even with the plugs. So I also can't hear / understand and yea when in a restaurant, crowd, or TV on- WHAAAA???
By the time I hit your guys age I expect to be pretty much alone in my own head.
(06-13-2018, 06:16 AM)PowerDubs_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Consider yourself fortunate to last this long.
I was stationed in an artillery unit in the Army, and although they gave us foam earplugs- as I am sure you know the plugs only knock down a certain DB range.
Well- a howitzer, Abrams, etc are well above safe even with plugs. Heck most anything in the Army is well above safe even with the plugs. So I also can't hear / understand and yea when in a restaurant, crowd, or TV on- WHAAAA???
By the time I hit your guys age I expect to be pretty much alone in my own head.
When I watch WW2 movies and guys are shooting off huge cannons and howitzers and stuff, I can only imagine how loud that must have been.
bet they went to sleep at night with ringing ears
I have hearing aids, my hearing damage comes from the Army as well. My left ear is so bad the hearing aid almost doesn't help. My joy of social events was gone as anywhere there was even a hint of background noise I couldn't tell what anyone was saying and like Ferret I had to combine sound with reading lips to make out anything at all. The hearing aids have made it somewhat better.
You can't wear them riding as even if you could get your helmet on without dislodging them (which I doubt) they would amplify the wind noise.
I have the kind with the external microphone that hangs behind the ear, most people don't notice them - not that I care if they do. Once you get used to having something in your ear you don't even notice them, I don't.
I recommend them.
BTW Josh, I am only 46 but hard living has taken its toll.
To answer your questions in order:
Do Not ride with them in. They are not simple amplifiers but are more of an "Frequency Equalizer". They will amplify the missing spectrum of sound. You will be reminded they are in if you try to put a helmet on. It doesn't work well the devices just sit on the top of the ear and get tangled in the helmet when putting it on or (should you get it on without problems) taking it off.
They do not work as hearing protection.
Comfortable? well, maybe. Sometimes they bug the S*&^ out of me. And then at times, I've forgotten them in and taken a shower.
The bottom line? I'm glad I finally was nagged into it a bit over a year ago. It was about 20 years over due.
PM me if you have more questions.
Jim
Do remove them and do use hearing protection. Man, the hearing 'ain't gonna get better'.
(06-13-2018, 05:46 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Between the tinnitus from not protecting my ears younger in life and just normal age related hearing loss, I'm thinking about getting hearing aids. I no longer hear a lot of what is said in a TV show, or movie, always asking my wife 'What did they say?" and asking my wife and grand kids to look me in the face when they talk, and noisy restaurants are nearly impossible for me to hear in. It's beginning to detract from my joy of life.
the sad realization of life is, one of these days I'm going to have to get some.
Couple of questions:
Can you ride with them in?
Do they make putting on a helmet an issue?
Do they work as ear protection while riding?
If not, I guess you need to remove them to put in ear plugs?
Would they amplify wind and road noise as well as voices and other necessary to hear sounds.
Are they comfortable to wear?
I can't say personally because I don't have them but my wife tried them and doesn't wear them.
I think the problem was the Amplified sound she wasn't used to hearing or maybe over-amplified sound and made the world too noisy for her so she just quit wearing them.
But I'm sure there becomes a point where you have to wear them whether you like it or not. She didn't give them much of a chance.
Just like my hip surgeon told me you'll let me know when you're ready.
(06-13-2018, 06:52 AM)tinboatcapt_imp Wrote: [ -> ]To answer your questions in order:
Do Not ride with them in. They are not simple amplifiers but are more of an "Frequency Equalizer". They will amplify the missing spectrum of sound. You will be reminded they are in if you try to put a helmet on. It doesn't work well the devices just sit on the top of the ear and get tangled in the helmet when putting it on or (should you get it on without problems) taking it off.
They do not work as hearing protection.
Comfortable? well, maybe. Sometimes they bug the S*&^ out of me. And then at times, I've forgotten them in and taken a shower.
The bottom line? I'm glad I finally was nagged into it a bit over a year ago. It was about 20 years over due.
PM me if you have more questions.
Jim
Do remove them and do use hearing protection. Man, the hearing 'ain't gonna get better'.
(06-13-2018, 05:46 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Between the tinnitus from not protecting my ears younger in life and just normal age related hearing loss, I'm thinking about getting hearing aids. I no longer hear a lot of what is said in a TV show, or movie, always asking my wife 'What did they say?" and asking my wife and grand kids to look me in the face when they talk, and noisy restaurants are nearly impossible for me to hear in. It's beginning to detract from my joy of life.
the sad realization of life is, one of these days I'm going to have to get some.
Couple of questions:
Can you ride with them in?
Do they make putting on a helmet an issue?
Do they work as ear protection while riding?
If not, I guess you need to remove them to put in ear plugs?
Would they amplify wind and road noise as well as voices and other necessary to hear sounds.
Are they comfortable to wear?
As above, I agree with all the answers.
I've been using a pair (L+R) hearing aids since last 2 decades and never ride with them.
If you need a set, get the one that has at least 2 programs, adjustable volume ++, with blue tooth accessories , so you can perfectly hear tv, radio, phone. Phonak behind- the-ear seems the best. My set has everything, 3 programs and auto unwanted noice reducer + more....check Costco - good price for Phonak...
BEFORE you buy = see audiologist and have hearing test done = a must.
https://www.phonak.com/ca/en/hearing-aid...ros-b.html
Do not buy cheep substitute!!
Good luck,
pb
The one thing I would say for certain is to be sure to go to Costco and consider what they have to offer. Their prices are so low compared to an Audiologist. They have something like a six month return policy. They provide free 'parts'. Like free ear wax traps, free rubber ear-molds. The ear exam that I received at the Costco in Charlottesville Va (two hour drive) was more comprehensive than the one at the local audio center.
Their current model is the Kirkland Signature 8. I think the latest version supports a streamlined manner for connecting to your phone. Two of them cost about $1,600.00. Costco contracts with well known hearing aid manufactures to produce these products. They really have a good think going with this.
.
For me the biggest downside to hearing aids is that they slow me down. One more thing the needs batteries, one more thing to take off and put on. However, in the end life is just better when I use them consistently. I even sleep better on days that I wear them all day long! Go figure.
(06-13-2018, 05:46 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Between the tinnitus from not protecting my ears younger in life and just normal age related hearing loss, I'm thinking about getting hearing aids. I no longer hear a lot of what is said in a TV show, or movie, always asking my wife 'What did they say?" and asking my wife and grand kids to look me in the face when they talk, and noisy restaurants are nearly impossible for me to hear in. It's beginning to detract from my joy of life.
the sad realization of life is, one of these days I'm going to have to get some.
Couple of questions:
Can you ride with them in?
Do they make putting on a helmet an issue?
Do they work as ear protection while riding?
If not, I guess you need to remove them to put in ear plugs?
Would they amplify wind and road noise as well as voices and other necessary to hear sounds.
Are they comfortable to wear?
(06-13-2018, 09:06 AM)activedirt_imp Wrote: [ -> ]The one thing I would say for certain is to be sure to go to Costco and consider what they have to offer. Their prices are so low compared to an Audiologist. They have something like a six month return policy. They provide free 'parts'. Like free ear wax traps, free rubber ear-molds. The ear exam that I received at the Costco in Charlottesville Va (two hour drive) was more comprehensive than the one at the local audio center.
Their current model is the Kirkland Signature 8. I think the latest version supports a streamlined manner for connecting to your phone. Two of them cost about $1,600.00. Costco contracts with well known hearing aid manufactures to produce these products. They really have a good think going with this.
.
For me the biggest downside to hearing aids is that they slow me down. One more thing the needs batteries, one more thing to take off and put on. However, in the end life is just better when I use them consistently. I even sleep better on days that I wear them all day long! Go figure.
(06-13-2018, 05:46 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Between the tinnitus from not protecting my ears younger in life and just normal age related hearing loss, I'm thinking about getting hearing aids. I no longer hear a lot of what is said in a TV show, or movie, always asking my wife 'What did they say?" and asking my wife and grand kids to look me in the face when they talk, and noisy restaurants are nearly impossible for me to hear in. It's beginning to detract from my joy of life.
the sad realization of life is, one of these days I'm going to have to get some.
Couple of questions:
Can you ride with them in?
Do they make putting on a helmet an issue?
Do they work as ear protection while riding?
If not, I guess you need to remove them to put in ear plugs?
Would they amplify wind and road noise as well as voices and other necessary to hear sounds.
Are they comfortable to wear?
Mick,
I am functionally deaf without hearing aids. The damage to my ears is the result of gun fire starting at age 10. I started wearing ear protection when I got older but on hunts where I needed to hear I couldn't. Now I'm paying the price. +1 on the advice above IF Costco has a model that will work for you which is 95% of the time. I can't wear my hearing aids while riding as my helmet rips them off when I put it on. But your life will be better. Costco does not have the type of aids I need and they cost $6000. Even with them I can not understand TV or movie voices but I can understand most speech. Good hearing aids will have several settings. They will diminish background noise and amplify speech in one, become directional in another, and amplify the whole spectrum in a music setting so songs sound normal. Go to Costco and the $1500 you spend will improve the quality of your life and you can take that to the bank.
Chip